Cedar Rapids, IA Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Limit
- 6 hens per tract
- Roosters
- Prohibited citywide
- Permit
- Required, plus a chicken class
- Setbacks
- 10 ft from line, 25 ft from dwellings
- Zoning
- Residential districts only
Summary
Cedar Rapids allows up to six permitted hens per lot, no roosters, under Chapter 23A, with a required Animal Control permit, an approved chicken-keeping class, and neighbor notification before you can start.
The maximum number of chickens allowed is six (6) per tract of land regardless of how many dwelling units are on the tract.(b)Only female chickens (hens) are allowed. (030-10)
23A.04 - ZONING DISTRICTS ALLOWED. Permits will be granted only for tracts of land located in residential districts as identified on the current Official Zoning Map on file with the City of Cedar Rapids.
(030-10)
23A.05 - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY. A permit shall not allow the permittee to engage in chicken breeding or fertilizer production for commercial purposes.
(030-10)
23A.06 - ENCLOSURES.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 24).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 23A caps a permitted tract of land at six chickens total, and § 23A.03 allows hens only: no roosters anywhere in the city. Before keeping any chickens, § 23A.02 requires an Animal Control permit, written notice to every adjacent dwelling, and completion of an approved urban-chicken class; permits are limited to residential zoning districts under § 23A.04. Coops and runs must sit at least 10 feet from the property line and 25 feet from any neighboring dwelling, church, school, or business under § 23A.06, and § 23A.12 bans slaughtering birds and keeping chickens inside a dwelling unit or on a vacant lot.
Violations & Fines
Keeping chickens without a permit, over six birds, or a rooster is unlawful under § 23A.12 and can trigger permit denial, suspension, or revocation, plus abatement as a nuisance under § 23A.13.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep a rooster in Cedar Rapids?
How many chickens can I keep?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cedar Rapids
How Cedar Rapids compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Compare Cedar Rapids to another location·View the Iowa animal ordinances overview
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